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Cabinet Communique |
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| 18/10/2001 |
The Cabinet released the following statement late yesterday evening
(Wednesday), 17.10.2001, following the assassination of Tourism Minister
Rechavam Zeevy early yesterday morning:
1. The Government and people of Israel are shocked and outraged by the
cold-blooded assassination of Minister Rehavam Ze'evi.
Tonight, we mourn together with his family.
The murder of a member of the Israeli Cabinet and Knesset crosses all
red lines. No democracy can tolerate such an attack on its elected
officials. The responsibility lies squarely with Arafat and the
Palestinian Authority.
2. The writing was on the wall.
The Popular Front announced that it was planning terrorist attacks - but
Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority did nothing.
Israel included Popular Front leaders on the list of terrorist fugitives
submitted to Arafat - but, again, he did nothing.
Israel began, this week, to withdraw its forces and ease restrictions -
serving only to open the door for terrorists to slip through.
In the interest of creating calm and advancing the cause of peace, and
at the urging of our friends in the international community, we held
meetings with Chairman Arafat, roadblocks were removed, and Israeli
forces withdrew from Hebron.
But the Palestinians only reciprocated with violence and murder. Many
promises were made, but only little steps were taken to prevent terror.
3. The time for words has ended, and the time for deeds has come.
Israel demands the extradition of those responsible for today's
assassination, and expects this to be carried out immediately.
We also demand that the terrorist organizations operating in the
Palestinian areas be disarmed and dismantled. Arafat must not shelter
them any longer.
Failure to meet these demands, which are grounded in signed agreements
between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, will leave us with no
choice but to view the Palestinian Authority as an entity supporting and
sponsoring terror, and to act accordingly.
Israel, meanwhile, will continue to take all necessary measures to
ensure the safety of its citizens.
4. There can be no compromise with terror. It must be eradicated,
without distinction between its perpetrators and those who harbor them.
The terrorists and their sponsors, including Arafat, must be told,
unequivocally, that their crimes will not be tolerated by the civilized
world.
We demand that Arafat stop his double-talk, and take serious and
concrete action against the terrorist factions operating freely in the
Palestinian Authority.
5. Israel shares the commitment of the international community to peace
and stability. And we want peace with the Palestinian people. But peace
and stability will not be achieved without decisive action from Arafat
to halt terror. |
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